Hundreds of San Diego shipyard workers rallied in Barrio Logan Friday to protest layoffs that might run into the thousands if Congress doesn't resolve the stalemale over the federal budget during the next few weeks.

The 400 or so workers from the city's three biggest yards were joined by San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and by recently elected Congressman Scott Peters, D-San Diego, who chided congressional leaders for sending lawmakers home to appear at rallies instead of staying in Washington, D.C., to negotiate a budget solution.

The Navy has said that current budget problems could force it to slash $219 million of spending in San Diego, most of which was to be used to modernize and repair warships. Hundreds of millions more could be eliminated if an automatic budget cut known as sequestration kicks in on March 1. BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair notified 1,368 workers this week that they face the risk of being laid off due to the budget problems.

"The cuts to the military are more like an amputation than a sequestration," said Peters. "A lot of people who are working on ships out here are potentially going to be laid off. We face cuts to border patrol, (among) other security things. That's not the way to do it."

Peters added, "I love being in San Diego. It's nicer than Washington, D.C. But this week we ought to be at work. It is amazing to me that they sent us to our districts."

About 80 of the workers at Barrio Logan were from General Dynamics NASSCO, the city's biggest yard, with 3,200 workers. Marlene Blunt, who works on firewatch duty for welders, said the number of employees at the yard has already begun to dwindle.

"There used to be a lot of us," Blunt said. "They are letting go of more and more of us. And in terms of hiring, they are slowing down."

Blunt said that she came to Friday's rally because she is not ready to leave her job yet.

"I've been with NASSCO for seven years," Blunt said. "It's been a lot of fun, seeing ships you've worked on for months go out to sea like that. I love this job, and this is where I want to retire. I'm not old, you know, but I'm getting there."

Dave Manchester, director of production at BAE Systems, a shipyard that employs nearly 1,400, said that he helped organize the demonstration on Friday because of the passion he has witnessed in shipyard workers. Manchester is chair of the San Diego Ship Repair Association, a workers' rights group for naval maintenance workers in San Diego County.

"I've worked at BAE for 35 years, and it's abundantly clear to me that these are people who care about the well-being of these vessels. When the Navy has stopped ship repairs because of cuts in funding from Congress, these are the people who are most affected. On an economic level, sure, but also on an emotional level, too. That's what Congress needs to see right now."

Filner told the workers, "The leadership is playing games. But average congresspeople, like Scott here, are seeing people in their districts and they want to settle this in a reasonable way."